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Chimo Community Services is excited to announce the launch of its Seniors Rent Bank! This new initiative is the first of its kind in Richmond, and could not have been made possible without the generous donation of $5,000 from the Dream Auction, and other generous donors.

The Seniors Rent Bank will provide short term funding to seniors that live in the City of Richmond, to enable them to secure or maintain their housing. The funding may go towards unpaid rent or utilities to prevent eviction, or may go towards a security deposit or pet deposit to enable a senior to secure housing. The short term funding would be provided in the form of an interest-free loan from our organization, giving seniors who may not have access to existing Provincial supplements, the opportunity for a home. Funding would be used exclusively for housing-related costs, and specific eligibility criteria and requirement for supporting documentation, will apply.

For more information on eligibility criteria, and how to apply, please visit the Seniors Rent Bank page on our website richmondrentalconnect.ca/for-tenants/seniors-rent-bank. Please sign up for our e-mail list, so that you can be informed of any updates with the Seniors Rent Bank, or any news or upcoming projects from Richmond Rental Connect.

Chimo Community Services is excited for its new initiative. With the generous donation of $5,000 from the Dream Auction, Chimo Community Services Society will be creating the Seniors Rent Bank, a first of its kind in Richmond. We hope to launch the Seniors Rent Bank next month, in May 2016.

Chimo Community Services Society has long provided a variety services to individuals and families in the Richmond Community, many of whom are seniors. Our Outreach & Advocacy and Homeless Prevention Programs often work with seniors with housing needs, some of whom may be homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness.

The Seniors Rent Bank will provide short term funding to seniors that live in the City of Richmond, to enable them to secure or maintain their housing. The funding may go towards unpaid rent or utilities to prevent eviction, or may go towards a security deposit or pet deposit to enable a senior to secure housing. The short term funding would be provided in the form of an interest-free loan from our organization, giving seniors who may not have access to existing Provincial supplements, the opportunity for a home. Funding would be used exclusively for housing-related costs, and specific eligibility criteria and requirement for supporting documentation, will apply.

We sincerely hope that our new initiative will fill a need in our community for a rent bank, to prevent seniors who have nowhere else to go from becoming homeless; as well, to create opportunity for future programs and funding.

Please sign up for our e-mail list, so that you can be informed of the Seniors Rent Bank launch, and any news or upcoming projects from Richmond Rental Connect.

Chimo Community Services thanks the Richmond Poverty Response Committee in creating and piloting this innovative program. As of December 2015, Chimo Community Services has now taken over operation of Richmond Rental Connect. We are taking this opportunity to review and make changes to the program. As such, we do not have any future workshops scheduled at this time. Please sign up for our e-mail list, so that you can be informed of any news or upcoming workshops from Richmond Rental Connect.